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Shallotte River, 10/13
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Shallotte River, 10/13
- From: "Robert C. Perkins" <rperkins@infi.net>
- Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 08:50:08 -0400
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
My fishing partner and I spent five hours, from 10 to 3 on the
Shallotte River yesterday. We lauched our canoe at Shell Point and
stayed within a mile of the landing. The fishing wasn't much, but
there were plenty of birds. Winter shorebirds were very evident.
While walking a mud/oyster shell bank I got within 10 feet of a
dowitcher. It surprised me and I'm morally certain that I surprised
it. The dowitcher made no comment, but it gave me time to study it
at close range through my field glasses. Based on what I could see
of the flank and tail, I'm reasonably certain it was a short-billed
dowitcher.
We also got close looks at a flock of 24 dunlin, all in winter
dress. We found two small flocks of semi-palmated plovers and, with
one flock, a western sandpiper. Black-bellied plovers and willets
were scattered all over the place.
We saw three species of gulls: laughing, ring-billed, and
herring, and two species of terns, Forster's and royal. The usual
herons--great blue and tri-colored--and egrets--great and snowy--were
present in fair numbers.
The bird that provided the most fun was a osprey that hunted the
area for much of the day. The first time I saw the osprey, it was
carrying a fish. Later I saw it fly off with another. The last time
it had a large fish and flew very close to the water instead of
heading skyward. Watching ospreys is always fun and that one put on
quite a show.
Bob
--
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Robert C. Perkins, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Methodist College, Fayetteville, NC 28311
910-630-7037 rperkins@methodist.edu